Legionella bug found in offices

People can be infected without developing symptoms

The bacteria which cause Legionnaires' disease have been found at Defra offices in Devon.

The legionella bug was detected at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency's (VLA) offices in Starcross during a routine national testing programme.

A Defra spokesman said no staff or members of the public had been infected and the offices were being disinfected.

Legionnaires' disease is a rare form of pneumonia, most often contracted by inhaling mist from water sources.

It cannot be passed from one person to another.

Mortality rate

The disease has an incubation period of two to 10 days, but people can become infected with the bacteria without developing symptoms.

According to the VLA website, its Starcross labs "provide diagnostic services to veterinary practitioners serving the livestock industry throughout the whole of Devon".

Arrangements are being made to keep staff disruption to a minimum while the "deep clean" is carried out, the Defra spokesman added.

The national testing programme was started after a security guard at a government office died of Legionnaires disease in June 2004.

Health experts say the mortality rate for Legionnaires' is between 5% and 30% with medical treatment, and as high as 80% if it is untreated.